Red has a great heart. Yesterday, he was so feeble he couldn’t eat or stand up. This morning, he was better, he got up and came with me to the door, his signal that he wants to go out and work.

Some days he does, some days he doesn’t, he always lets me know, we always communicate easily and clearly with one another, we have never needed words.

When I went out to do the morning chores, he walked alongside me, he wanted to work. My approach is this. If he wants to work, I let him. If he doesn’t, he lies down and stays there until I’m ready to go out.

I have the feeling this is important to Red, he has worked every day of his life, this is part of his identity, his way of keeping his self-respect and dignity. I let him make whatever decisions he can and wants to make.

There is some danger now, Liam and some of the other sheep no longer fear him, Liam, in particular, will charge at him and try to butt him, and for the first time since I’ve known him, Red-backed away from Liam.

If Liam butted him head-on, this could damage Red’s spine, and I’d rather he not die that kind of death.

I don’t think he can see Liam clearly any longer. This morning, Red walked in alongside me and approached the sheep. They backed up and froze, just as they always did.

Then Liam came forward, threatening to chare. “That’ll do,” I said and Red back up and out of the Pole Barn. Good work, I said, good work,  and I brought him back to the house.

Red has a great and beautiful heart. I will work with him as long as he can and wishes to. It’s up to him, risks or not.

It was a powerful moment for me to see Red this morning, out in the Pole Barn, holding the sheep at bay. It was a beautiful thing.